The IFSL Wise Multi-Asset Growth fund has weathered various market storms since launch 20 years ago. We explore the challenges of navigating volatile markets, particularly amidst events like Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, with co-manager Vincent Ropers. Despite the noise, he finds solace in the abundance of value opportunities for patient investors, highlighting sectors like investment trusts, private equity, biotechnology, and UK equities in this interview.

What’s covered in this episode: 

• How market noise impacts fund management
• Balancing investment sentiment with investment decisions 
• The benefits of investment trusts
• Recent challenges within the investment trust sector
• How the fund utilises private equity in the portfolio
• The difference between private equity and venture capital
• The appeal of the biotechnology sector
• Opportunities in the UK equity market
• Why the manager stays clear of US equity funds
• Recent exposure to commodities
• Playing the theme of decarbonisation in the fund
• The significance of value strategies  
• The key to consistent long-term performance 

More about the fund: 

This fund sits in the Investment Association Flexible sector, which means the manager is afforded a significant degree of discretion over asset allocation and is allowed to invest up to 100% in equities. We like the team’s straightforward process and focus on managers with a simple, yet disciplined investment process. The focus on high-quality funds, coupled with strong exposure to investment trusts, offers a valid alternative in the IA Flexible sector. 

Learn more on fundcalibre.com

Please remember, we’ve been discussing individual companies to bring investing to life for you. It’s not a recommendation to buy or sell. The fund may or may not still hold these companies at the time of listening. Elite Ratings are based on FundCalibre’s research methodology and are the opinion of FundCalibre’s research team only.